The Best Tube Amplifiers vs Spectron ?

Hi Mike,

I also compared Siegfried against Musician III SE and I posted the details ( http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1180897750&read&keyw&zzspectron ). In brief, from my prospective of cello player, Spectron was more accurate in reproduction of the cello I used to hear all my life.

Teajay, I agree with you that we "...have to take in consideration system synergy and personnal taste.."

Regarding sysem synergy I feel that when we acquire better component it opens previously covered deficiencies and requires further investment.

Regarding the personal taste - many people like overly rich sound like found in many tube gear e.g. older CJ stuff. There is nothing wrong here, absolutely! One likes that one likes! Therefore people must know what they are buying. If I want most realistic acoustic music representation as I hear alive then with my budget, Spectron is the "BEST". If I love "heavenly violin bloom - better then Stradivarius" I will have to choose something else (e.g. TYPICAL single ended triode amp) and its my right too !!!!

All The Best
Rafael

Hello Bruceeboy.

There is no need to F- anyone, please. I am interested in your comparison beween Spectrons and BAT 600SE monos. Incidently, I know recording engineer in L.A. who compared both and preferred Spectron, may be again, as you said, he preferred that musician preferred. At any rate , when you said that Spectron has very slight "digital" sound I wonder if you have auditioned them with V-cap [oil/teflon] cap upgrade? BAT600 has similar optional upgarde of oil caps in the power supply for $3k and in monos its $6k. Spectron has its upgrade for $3k for its monos - so may be they should add more oil capacitors...

I am sure we(Spectron owners) will learn something interesting from your reply.

Thank you in advance.

Rafael

"...comparisons between live and recorded music are in valid and hence unreliable. audible memory is very short."

Rarely, I have read more horses..t then this.

First, SHORT-TERM audible (or other) memory is "very" short, indeed. I took word "very" in quotation because for different people this duration will vary and should be prolonged with training.

Long term audioble memory - the memory that music critic has, that professional musicians have, the memory of recording engineers, the memory of speaker designers like vom Schweikerts and Gallo... is short???? People who work decades and decades in audio environment, environmemt where luck of attention will cost you your job or success or both? These people have....excellent audioble memory. I am NOT saying that each of these people's memory is identical -it would depend on their "internal" ear-brain systems.

Mike asked simple albeit somewhat naive question. Initial critics correctly stated, IMO, that Spectron is not the only one amp "in the desert" (actually, if you like GOOD tube amps, hate weight and hate heat then ...yes, "one in the desert", IMHO only) there are other excellent amps, both solid states and tube. Also - not that many excellent amps around (Athmasphere is one of these few - my hat off to you, sir).

I feel that Brycee has summirized it excellently:
"I can see what musicians would like about the Spectrons as they are very accurate. To each his own. Enjoy!"

So, lets enjoy music "alive" and....re-created.

All The Best
Rafael

"I was a little surprised that the Spectron mono's can't drive the Apogee Scintilla speakers....(they are rated 1400 [email protected])."

Hello,

If you mentioned Spectron rating then it has 1400 watts into 2 Ohm and not into 0.5Ohm load - to the best of my knowledge.

I know that Spectron stereo would have difficulties to drive Apogee Scintilla but I have no doubr what so ever that two monoblocks can drive these speakers.

I heard about one case then person expected from Spectron monos the same effortless presentation as he had with easier load speakers - of course, he couldn't get it. Next, he switched monos into two stereos and here he had some problems. I would presume that anyone having difficult situation woild call manufacturer for advise first.

Regards
Rafael